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L. Y. MYERS & W. M. MOUNTAIN.

Horse Hay-Fork.

Patented April 27, 1880 N. PErEns. FHoTQ-UTHOGRAPHER. wAsHmmoN. D C.

UNTTEDl STATES PATENT OEEICE:e

LEWIS Y. MYERS AND WILLIAM M. MOUNTAIN, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGN- ORS OF ONE-THIRD OF THEIR RIGHT TO ALEXANDER HURFORD, OF

SAME PLACE.

HORSE HWAY-FoRK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,041, dated April 27, 1880. Application filed May 6, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Lnwrs Y. MYERS and WILLIAM M. MOUNTAIN, of Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new an d useful Improvements in Hay-Forks; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to 1o make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciiication.

Figure l is a plan view of the fork open. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fork closed; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section.

Corresponding parts in the several iigures are denoted by like letters of reference.

This invention relates to hay-forks and it consists in certain improvements in the conzo struction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents a sharppointed rod or spear, to the head of which is secured a block, B, having the pulley C, by means of which the device is adapted to be hoisted in the usual manner.

D is a cap or box sliding upon the rod A and provided with side ilanges, E E, to which 3o the hooks F F are hinged or pivoted. The front side ofthe box D is provided with a suitably-constructed latch or catch, Gr, engag` ing a notch, H, in the upper end of rod A, and operated by a cord or rope, I.

The lower end of rod A is provided with. a notch, R, engaging a spring-catch, Q, in the rear side of box D, by which the box is prevented from sliding off the rod.

J J are ropes or cords connecting the hooks 4o F F with the block B, which is provided with perforatediianges K K, for the attachment of said cords.

To operate our improved hay-fork, which is supposed to be suspended by pulley C from suitable tackle, the rope I is iirst pulled so as to disengage catch G from notch H. By continuing the pull the box D is slid down to the end of rod A, the latch above mentioned preventing it from coming off. The fork is now lowered until the point of the spear en- 5o ters the hay. The pressure of the hay will then gradually slide the boxD up toward the head of the spear, thus closing the hooks togetherl and causing them to grasp a load of hay. When the box D reaches the head the catch Gr engages the notch H, thus lookin g the fork and enabling it to be elevated with the load.

We are aware ot' the patent to Raber, N o. 94,644, September 7 1869, and we claim noth- 6o ing therein shown.

It will be observed that in our invention the end of the latch or lever G to which the trip-rope is attached is below the fulcrum, thereby causing the said latch to be disengaged by a downward pull upon the triprope, which, when continued, draws the sliding head D down, thus spreading the forks and dropping the load. This is an important advantage, because if the load should be 7o small or the hay damp considerable diiiiculty is experienced in dropping the load, unless some power can be brought to bear direct upon the sliding head.

Again,by constructing the head D with the spring-catch Q the said head, While prevented from coming oft' the spear by accident, may be easily removed at any time for repairs, Src., by simply fitting a wedge in the recess It, when the head will readily slide o". 8o

Having thus described our invention, We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- In a horse hay-fork, the combination of the spear A, having notch R, andthe sliding head 8 5 D, having spring-catch Q, adapted to engage said notch R to prevent head D from sliding oft' spear A, as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto afxed our signa- 9o tures in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS Y. MYERS. WILLIAM M. MOUNTAIN. Witnesses:

En. M. GRIMEs, WALTER S. CHANCE. 

